NEWS

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The Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Works has commenced investigation into the multi million naira Asaba International Airport of which the major contractor, ULO Consultant Limited, engaged by the Delta State Government had written to pull out.
The probe followed the 2018 budget defence by the Ministry of Work, which is supervising the project since inception.
BigPen Online gathered that the hearing on the contract which started on Tuesday was inconclusive as all parties are to appear again today (Wednesday) for further investigation into the spending, expenditure and other matters relating to the project.
The contract has been contention since the tenure of Okowa's predecessor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan who controvertailly awarded t

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Popular Ogbe-Ijoh market, notorious for annual disaster is up in flames again, BigPen Online can report.
It was gathered that wide fire gutted the market early hours of Wednesday, in Warri, commercial nerve centre of Delta state.
The fire, an eyewitness said started from a small portion of the market and spread to other stalls.
The source blame the inferno on electrical surge but we could not verify independently what led to the fire outbreak as at press time.
Unconfirmed report however says soldiers deployed to the scene had prevented people from rescuing their wears following report that hoodlums are capitalising on the situation to loot.
The market has notoriety for yearly fire outbreak, Nigerian Tribune had reported sometime ago, adding tha...

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Police officers attached to Government House Asaba, Delta State on Wednesday throw caution to the wind, firing tear gas to disperse student who were on protest match.
BigPen Online correspondent reports that several protesters were badly injured in the ensuing commotion.
Also vehicles were also damage in the ensuing confrontation, our source said.
The source said some of the protesters were arrested and detained by Anti-Terrorism Police Squad attached to the Governor.
Update:
Sources said anti-riot police men and officers of Anti-Terrorism Squad attached to the Government House battered the students who were mobilised by the National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSU).
The students were in the state from various instituti

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A socio-political group under the auspices of "The United Nigeria Group" has urged former Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku to heed the calls by many Nigerians to join the race for the 2019 presidential election.
In a statement made available to BigPen Online in Warri, Delta State, the group said that Atiku enjoys overwhelming support of Nigerian than any other would-be aspirants because he has being on the side of the masses.
Signed by its National Organising Secretary and the National Spokesman, Engr. Adamu Salihu and Dr Emenema Bright respectively, they reeled out the reason for the choice of Atiku to include, being advocate for true federalism, respect for democratic institutions, ability to fast track economic growth through major politico structural c

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The Commander of the Joint Task Force, Codenamed Operation Delta Safe, Admiral Apochi Suleiman on Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to the paramount ruler of Gbaramatu Kingdom, HRM Oboro Gbaraun II, Aketakpe (Agadagba) in Oporoza, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The visit, it was gathered was part of effort to strengtened the relative peace and security in the coastal communities of the Niger Delta region.
A source with knowledge of the visit told our correspondent that the meeting discussed strategic relations between the army and Gbaramatu people, besides discussing issues relating to military occupation of the communities.
Specifically, the JTF Commander, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman said that Gbaramatu Kingdom remains stretegic...

The Long term President Of Zimbabwe and World oldest ruler, Robert Gabriel Mugabe has resigned, thus closing a long overdue chapter in Zimbabwe's political history.
Mugabe who has been president since Zimbabwe's independence tendered his resignation in a letter which was read by the Parliamentary speaker, Jacob Mudenda at a special joint session of parliament.
In the letter, Mugabe said that his decision to resign was voluntary on his part as it will aid the smooth transfer of power.
This event brings to an end an unprecedented week in which the military seized control and tens of thousands of Zimbabweans took to the streets to demand his resignation.
Mugabe had ruled Zimbabwe almost unopposed since the country won independence from Britain and when the news of h

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The effect of oil stakeholders' engagement meeting convey by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu in Delta State on Tuesday, appears to be hanging in the balance as Chief Edwin Kaigbodo Clark and other critical stakeholders in Pan Niger Delta Forum were conspicuously absent.
BigPen Online gathered that Kachikwu and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, reportedly failed to extend formal invitation to Clark and other stakeholders who ought to be in the meeting held in Asaba, the state capital.
Clark was said to have planned PANDEF emergency general meeting in Effurun, Delta state, same day since members of his group including leader of PANDEF in Delta state, Professor Godini Darah, were not formally invited for the Kachikwu's stakeholders meeting...

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Pandemonium broke out in Asokoro district of Abuja on Tuesday, as operatives of Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, State Security Service, SSS, and the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, clashed over move to arrest the former heads of the latter security agencies, authoritative online medium, Premium Times is reporting.
Sources said that attempt by a combined team of EFCC officials and police officers to arrest the former heads of the two agencies were vehemently resisted, thus causing a serious standoff and traffic gridlock in the area.
It was gathered that security details of former head of the NIA, Ayo Oke, and former head of the SSS, Ita Ekpeyong, resisted the EFCC officials who tried to arrest the duo from their homes on Mamman Nasir ...

The Senate on Tuesday announced the deferment of debate on the 2018 budget submitted to the joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari about 2 weeks ago.
This contradicts its earlier plan to commence debate on the general principles of the budget.
Senate President and leader of the National Assembly, Bukola Saraki who made the announcement at the commencement of Tuesday’s legislative business said the postponement was due to the delay in the passage of the 2018-2020 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, and distribution of budget documents.
He also said that the deferment will allow the National Assembly’s bureaucracy distribute copies of the budget proposal to members of the House.
He announced the documents to include;

Don Waney while accepting amnesty
Security operatives in a joint operation raided a militant camp in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government of Rivers State in which six militants were shot dead after intense gun battle which lasted for hours.
This operation which followed the killing of three members of ONELGA local Vigilance known as Security Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC) occurred in the early hours of yesterday.
However, there were conflicting reports about the state of the dreaded ex-militant in the area, 'General' Don Waney as some reports suggested that he was shot dead and his corpse carried away during the operation around Ali-Ugo junction.
Another version of the report however suggest that the militant leader is alive and well, according to one of hi...